Landscape with a Village in the Distance
The Met
Artist: Jacob van Ruisdael(Dutch, Haarlem 1628/29–1682 Amsterdam)
Date: 1646
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on wood
Dimensions: 30 x 43 in. (76.2 x 109.2 cm)
Credit Line: Bequest of Adele L. Lehman, in memory of Arthur Lehman, 1965
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A landscape with a cloudy sky, large trees, a winding path, and figures near a church
Detailed Description
The image depicts a landscape under a cloudy sky. The upper half of the image is dominated by a vast sky, with heavy, dark grey clouds massed on the left, gradually lightening to a pale blue-grey on the right where hints of brighter light break through. In the mid-ground and foreground, a winding dirt path begins in the lower right corner and curves towards the center-left. The ground on either side of the path is uneven, covered with patches of brown, green, and reddish-brown vegetation, suggesting a heath or moorland. On the right side of the composition, two large, dark-leafed trees with thick, gnarled trunks rise prominently, their branches extending upwards and across the upper right quadrant. Smaller trees and dense foliage line the horizon in the mid-ground, stretching across the width of the image. A tall, slender church steeple, dark against the lighter sky, is visible in the distance, slightly left of center, rising above the treeline. A lone figure, dressed in dark clothing, walks along the path, moving away from the viewer towards the left. Further to the left, a smaller, indistinct figure appears to be seated or crouched in the field. The overall lighting is subdued, with pockets of brighter illumination highlighting areas of the path and distant landscape.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
